Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-05-19
NATURAL GAS.
Interesting Facts About This Subterralean
Production of the Earth.

WASHINGTON, May7-The recent discov-
to which 1t is being put, in Ohio, Indiana
illinois end Kentucky, is awakening a
keen interest in scientific circles here,
and the reports from those competent to
report upon the subject ere looked for
with great deal of interest. The sub
iect is now being carefully studied by ex-
perts, and before NANNY months the geo
logical survey expects to have SEINE new
and valuable information upon 6he sub
iiect.
What Will be the extent, duration ana
practical value of the gas producing
field is - subject of great interest.
And, it nasy as we'll be admitted, it lis G.
subject, about which the geolegists and
scientific people generally know very lit
tie as yet Where it comes from, when
and how it was formed, whether it's pro
'duction is yet going on down in natures
great laboratory, how hong its going to
last, under what parts of the country AID
the surface of the earth generally it is
found all arc subjects of great unoer-
SANITY and grave concern It Us a cs>ri-
GUS fact, too, that in the very sections
and cities, where naturaa gas is to day so
abundant creating SO mach -exciteme nt,
its existence
HAS gEGSE KNOWN Fog MANY YEARS,
and been utilized in a quiet way for q de-
.eade or quarter of a century, Or even
more. In Findley, Ohio, natural gas has
been known tc exist ever since dts settle
Eent, and was met with in
digging cellars and wells and found
in springs and rock crevices.
LIZ 1888, almost full half century ago. 1t
ives utilized in a small wsy for lighting "a
residence or two in the village, and has
been SO utilized ever since. The earliest
use of natural gas for practical pRrposes,
in bhis country, rs that at Eredovia, n. Y,
where the natural gas was found escaping
from rock creviees and springs, when the
Holland land company made its survey.
In 1e81 we'll was sunk to the depth of
81 feet, for the purpose of gathering
somerOf this eseaping gas, and it was
utilized with iron pipes with small holes
at the side for its escape. Burn ed ia this
way it anade d fame ''about equal to two
candles" By 1924, She date OF La Fay
ette's visit, the enterprise had progressed
SO far tkat the town was lighted with this
natural gas on the occasion of his visit.
Probably
TIKI FIRST REPORTED DISCOVERY
of natural gas was in the Kanawha valley.
where it is just now, a century later,
being re- q scovsred. The earliest ex-
plOrers of the Kanawka valley found
'marsh gas" the modern natural gas, is
suing from springs, and it is related that
Washington, in locating lands decided
him for his military services, found
burning spring" which he proposed to
deed for public uses, but which, through
some informally, was never completed.
Nearly half century ago natural gas was
utilized for boiling salt in the Hanawha
valley. In Illinois, where the gas excite
nent has blazed up SO vigorously of late,
there have been gas wells for over 80
years, the first being utilized as early as
1855. The latest work on this
subject by the geological survey,
says: "IR general it may be said
that natural gas is found in varying
quantities through the territory from the
Hudson river on the east to California on
the west. In New York. Pennsylvania,
West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Tonnes
see, Alabama, Louisiana, Indiana, Illinois,
Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, Kansas, Colo
RADIO, Dakota, Utah, Wyoming and Cali
fornia, its existence is reported"
Where can it be found in paying quah-
titles? All, that is another question.
This same work, discussing this same
question remarks that it is almost i'm
possible to put down the drill anywhere
in the state of Ohio without finding ratu-
raj gas in greater or less quantities but
adds: "Outside of the localities in which
the Berea grit and Trenton limestone have
been found the gas Is produced in no very